Governor Joins Celebration of College Transitions Success

AUGUSTA – Governor John E. Baldacci joined officials of the state’s community colleges, university system, and the Maine Department of Education on Monday for a celebration of new agreements among the three entities to further improve the highly successful College Transitions program for adults.

Maine has more than 580,000 working age adults who have not completed an associate’s degree or higher. Especially in the current economy, many of them are recognizing they need to enter a two- or four-year college or another postsecondary institution to improve their employability and their earning potential.

The Maine College Transitions Program offers the preparation and skills adults who are earning a high school diploma and those out of high school for a while need so they can enter a two- or four-year college. Since the program’s launch in Fall 2007, more than 1,000 adults who would not likely have entered college were able to because of the program. Enrollment for the Fall 2009 was up 63 percent from last year, with more than 1,300 people in the program this year.

The program prepares students for college-level math, reading and other skills, offers counseling and support services, career planning, a college experience, and follow-up support.

“In the current economy, many adults are recognizing they need to enter a two- or four-year college to improve their earning potential,” Governor Baldacci said. “That’s where successful partnerships like Maine College Transition come in. Participating adults who become graduates from college are joining the engine that drives Maine’s economy. They are fulfilling the dream for themselves, their families, their communities, and for the state of Maine.”

“Our participants continually amaze me with their ambition, their desire to succeed for themselves and their families,” said Larinda Meade, coordinator of the College Transitions program. “Many of our adults are doing homework at the table with their kids for the first time. It’s truly inspirational.”

Other participants included: Nova Wagg, a student who went through the program and recently graduated from the University of Maine, Augusta; Rosa Redonnett, Student Affairs Director for the University of Maine System; Dr. Barbara Woodlee, President of Kennebec Valley Community College; Allyson Handley, President of the University of Maine, Augusta; and Adult Education directors and students from around the state.